Salsa!

Oh yeah! There's nothing like a good salsa! You will notice alot of similarities in these salsa recipies, ergo- you can create your very own salsa! After you make a few basic salsas you'll be ready to create all kinds of yummy stuff on a whim. Most people only think of salsa as something they eat with mexican food or corn chips. Wrong- how about dessert salsa? MMMM!

Hot Pepper Basics:
There are different types and 'hots' of hot peppers. Scotch Bonnets and Habaneros are THE HOTTEST of the peppers. Pepper hotness is based on the The Scoville Scale please check the link to get an idea about how hot peppers are.
You will notice that the heat rating is called "Pungency." This term is acurate from not only a heat perspective but from taste as well. Habaneros have a funky, well, pungent flavor. Not only are they too hot for me to eat- I can't stand the way they taste and smell. You should, of course, decide for yourself what flavors you like and how hot you can take. You'll notice that my recipie, "Spicy Hubby," has Habaneros. My husband likes them. He doesn't thnk they are hot... but then, I've always known he was a little weird. LOL- Just kidding!!! The "Saucy Wife" is a much milder recipie- becuase I like it mild.

Chopping Hot Peppers:
Anytime you cut or chop hot peppers with a knife you really should wear some kind of gloves. The juices from hot peppers will sink into your skin and get very hot. The hotter the pepper- the hotter your skin! Trust me- you can't just wash it off either. I chopped Habaneros without gloves one time, all I can say is OWWW!!! It doesn't go away quickly either- it can burn for days. Also, the juices can cause a rash on some people's skin. And believe me- you DEFINATELY don't want to rub your eyes once you have it on your hands. Even the next day it can really hurt!

Okay, too hot- now what?:
Can ya feel the burn? When you get ahold of food that is too spicy hot for you how do you cool the mouth? For starters water is the WORST thing you can drink! Water will simply spread the oils through your mouth and down your throat- now it's even worse than before!
The BEST thing for the spicy burn is dairy- milk, ice cream, even cheese has the power to cool.
Bread, believe it or not, is the second best.

Please check out these sites before getting started:
The Chilie Encyclopedia

and:
Advice on Roasting Peppers

On the lighter side visit:
The Leonard Nimoy Should Eat More Salsa Foundation

Nokomys' Spicy Hubby Salsa
REALLY HOT!!!

2 large tomatos
1 purple onion
2 Jalepeno peppers
2 Anaheim peppers
2 Habanero peppers
Fresh Cilantro to taste
Finely chop all ingredients
and mix together in a bowl.
Tightly pack into a jar with a screw on lid
and put into the fridge for 3 days.
Eat with corn chips or with any food you
normally have salsa with.
Have fire extinguisher near-by. HeeHee!!!

Nokomys' Saucy Wife Salsa
Warm

2 large ripe tomatos
1 purple onion
1 Bell Pepper- you're color choice
1-2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded
Fresh Cilantro to taste
Finely chop all ingredients and mix
together in a bowl. Eat immediately.






Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa
Warm

3 cup Chopped watermelon
1/2 cup Green bell peppers, chopped
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp Chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp Chopped green onion
1 Tbsp jalapeno peppers, chopped*
1/2 tsp garlic salt
* Use up to 2 Tbsp chopped jalapenos,
depending on taste. Combine all ingredients.
Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Serve on sliced oranges or cheese-filled manicotti.
Or, top 1 cup sour cream with 1 cup salsa
and serve with chips.




Banana Salsa
HOT!

2 Lg Bananas
1/2 C Red Bell Pepper diced
1/2 C Green Bell Pepper diced
1/2 Scotch Bonnet, Seed, dice
1 Tbsp Ginger minced
1/4 C cilantro chopped
3 Tbsp lime Juice
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar Packed
1/4 Tsp Cardamom Ground
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Salt And Pepper
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl,
and gently toss to mix.Correct the seasonings,
adding salt, lime juice, or sugar, to taste.
The salsa should be a little sweet and a little sour.
Best when served a couple hours after making.
Cover and refrigerate until serving time.


Mango Tequila Salsa
Warm

2 cups mango peeled and diced
2/3 cup red bell pepper chopped fine
3 tablespoons tequila
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon jalapeno seeded and minced
2 teaspoons mint chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl;
stir well. Cover and chill.















Summer Strawberry-Peach Salsa
Mild

1 cup Peaches, diced (about 2 peaches)
1/4 cup Strawberries, diced
1/2 medium Green Pepper, diced
1 medium Onion, diced
2 Tbsp. Raisins
3 Tbsp. Parsley, chopped
3 ml. Wine Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Extra- Virgin Olive Oil
2 ml. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
l tsp. Dry Mustard
1 tsp. Thyme
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Rosemary
Combine the diced peaches, strawberries,
green pepper, onion, raisins, and
parsley. Toss together. Add the sugar,
salt, mustard, thyme, cinnamon, and
rosemary. Toss with the mixed fruit.
Stir in the wine vinegar and olive oil.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using
for the flavors to blend. Serve with chicken or seafood.
Also good with pork.

Black Bean Salsa
Warm

1 can black beans or equivalent
1 red, 1 green pepper, diced
kernels of 4 ears of corn, cooked
2 jalapenos, diced
cumin, coriander and
chile powder to taste (about 1 tsp each)
chopped cilantro
Mix and chill.


Watermelon Dessert Salsa
Warm

2 cups watermelon finely chopped
1 navel oranges diced
1 cup strawberries coarsely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
Mix all ingredients in medium-size bowl.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Serving Ideas : Spoon over frozen yogurt and
serve with biscotti cookies.

Xnipec
REALLY HOT!

2 habaneros
2 tomatoes
1 onion
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons cilatro
Chop it all up, and let sit a few hours.
Add the cilantro before serving.




Raspberry Salsa
Warm

2 cups fresh or unsweetened frozen
raspberries, thawed & drained
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons red onion, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (raspberry
vinegar would work also)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill for 1 hour.
Cover and refrigerate. Should keep about 7 days.

Coyote Summer Salsa
HOT!

2 Oranges peeled & cut into Pieces
1 small Onion chopped fine
2 + minced Habaneros
1/4 + cup chopped cilantro Leaves *no stems*
3 tablespoons Fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoons Dried Mexican oregano
1/4 teaspoons Salt
Mix it all together let it sit for a 1/2 hour
then open a bag of your favorite tortilla chips &
a bottle of good ale - enjoy :-)


Roasted Habanero Salsa From Hell
REALLY HOT!

1/3 cup Virgin olive oil
6 Ripe plum tomatoes, halved
Freshly ground black pepper 10 Habanero chile peppers
1/4 cup Lime juice (about 2 limes)
1/4 cup Chopped cilantro
Combine tablespoon of olive oil and garlic and mix well.
Rub tomato halves with this mixture, sprinkle with salt
and freshly cracked pepper and roast in 500-degree oven until
they begin to take on some serious color, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from oven, cool to room temperature and dice.

Tropical Fruit & Black Bean Salsa
Warm

1/2 cup Pineapple diced
1/2 cup Mango diced
1/2 cup Papaya diced
1/2 cup Red Onions chopped
1/2 cup Black Beans cooked
1 Jalapeno minced
Mix all ingredients.
Allow flavors to develop for at least 30 minutes.








Pico De Gallo
Warm to HOT!

2 small Tomatoes diced (1/2 lb)
1 small Onion chopped
2/3 cup diced Cucumber
6 small Radishes diced
1/2 cup loosely packed Cilantro
-leaves, coarsely chopped
3 or 4 Serrano chiles (Jalapeno type) or other
-small hot chilies seeded
-finely chopped
Juice of 1/2 small Lime
Salt to taste
Mix tomatoes, onion, cucumber, radishes, cilantro and chilies.
Squeeze lime juice over vegetables.
Add salt to taste; stir.
Serve immediately or refrigerate. Makes about 2-1/4 cups.